The story continues..............

So after we decided to start looking for properties, we wrote a list of the things we wanted to be part of our new life in Spain, if we decided to go ahead. The main issue with a property was space, we wanted more of it. After living in a terraced house for the past thirty years, space is at a premium most of the time.

so we started looking at all the property websites and after many hours, days and weeks, we finally came up with a short list that we wanted to see when we finally made it over to Spain. In between all this searching, we had a holiday booked too for June 2014.

so we finally made up our minds that we were going to do this and we could make a few changes in our lives along the way, namely I could give up work years earlier than I had planned, so that was a very positive incentive for me.

We attended a cousins 60th birthday lunch and it cropped up in conversation that we were looking at properties and within a short space of time, the people we knew at the lunch knew what our plans were. Note to self, do not mention any life changing plans at a birthday celebration, it is after all, someones special day and an announcement like this can go either way!

so we went off on our holiday to Norway, Iceland, the Faroe's and the Orkneys and all the while continued to look at new properties that came onto the market. However, our list of four remained the same.

When we arrived home at Southampton, we barely had time to turn things around before we were flying to Spain, via Ryan Air from Luton, an experience all of its own, but it served the purpose of a cheap flight. Before we knew it, we had landed at Reus airport in the blazing sunshine and that wonderful feeling you get as you walk down the steps into the warmth.

Spain, the journey continues....

So our friends house purchase was finally completed and they came down to see us for lunch one day. I asked what had brought them down to us and one of them said they had come to say good bye to his sister. I asked where she was going, I thought perhaps a holiday and he had wanted to wis her Bon voyage.

The reality of their move to Spain then became obvious as it was they who were doing the goodbyes because they were leaving for Spain the following weekend! We were amazed, we knew it was going to happened. But we hadn't realised it was now!

We had always said that we were here for them and they would always be welcome to stay here when they came back if they wanted to etc.

Over a smoked salmon and cream cheese bagel for lunch, we were shown the house they had purchased and were given the price they paid. It blow us away! One hectare and the most gorgeous house with the most spectacular views of the sea and the coastline. We continued discussing Spain over lunch and then before we knew it, we had to say goodbye.

After our friends had gone, we started to think, what could be afford in Spain? That was the first of many questions that we asked ourselves and each other. With the magic of the Internet, we were able to answer that question fairly quickly. We could afford a similar amount of land with a very large property.

Needless to say, we talked of nothing else for the rest of that weekend, our minds were continually thinking about the possibility of moving to Spain, something we hadn't dreamt of doing until our friends came to say goodbye.

This was going to be life changing if we did it.

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Spain and our journey to a new home!

Two of our oldest friends have been going to stay with friends of theirs in Spain for the last ten years or so. Usually spending a couple of weeks at a time in a non touristy area of the Costa Duarada. Then in 2013, they said that they were going to sell their house and move to Spain.

We thought they were crazy to be honest. They had a wonderful home here in the UK, beautifully furnished, new cars in the drive, good jobs and the security that comes with all this. The home had been built up over many years and was just the way they wanted it.

However, the strain for one of them doing the job they did was proving to be very stressful and the move to Spain would give him back his sanity. So I could understand why the move was so important.

The house was sold very quickly, no surprise there as it was immaculate and by December 2013, our friends moved out of their home of twenty years. Their whole life was now in storage until such time as they made the move to Spain.

How does this involve us? That will all become evident as I continue this blog.

 

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Blithe Spirit, Geilgud Theatre, London

Two weeks ago,, I was privileged to be in the audience of Blithering Spirit at the Geilgud Theatre. I was there with friends to see a Broadway and Hollywood Legend and Icon, Oscar and Tony award winner newly created, Dame Angela Lansbury.

To say it was a master class in acting would be an understatement, it was a master class in how an actress should be, star quality by the bucket load.

The moment the Dame appeared on the stage, the audience went wild with applause. The 88 year old, yes I have written that correctly, defied her age and was as agile as anyone half her age. She had the audience eating out of her hand for the whole performance and her trance scene once everyone was assembled around the table was nothing short of amazing.

If you can, beg, steal or simply try to get a return for this sell out show. Dame Angela Lansbury is back where she belongs, the London Stage!

 

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State visit to Windsor

This week saw the historic State Visit of Michael D Higgins, the President of the Irish Republic to Windsor as the guest of HM The Queen and HRH The Duke of Edinburgh. I was fortunate enough to be in the be crowd that saw all the pomp and ceremony associated with such a visit.

Everything was pulled out for this visit as it was the first time ever that the Head of State of our nearest neighbour had ever visited the UK, this followed the visit of HM The Queen to the Irish Republic in 2011. Both visits are the final stage of the peace process between both countries.

The Australian State Coach carrying HM The Queen and The President.

the Glass Coach carrying HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and Mrs Higgins.

TRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall in a state landau.

I took many other photos of the event, too many to post on my blog, but it may post some of the others later.

 

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HM The Queen in Windsor

As part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations two years, Windsor decided that as it was the home of The Queen, it was only right that the town should have a lasting reminder of The Queens sixty year reign.

And so two weeks ago, The Queen, accompanied by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh and HRH The Duke of Cambridge, drove from the Castle to the roundabout adjacent to The Long Walk to unveil a statue of two Windsor Greys.

 

 

 

 

I was fortunate enough to be there at the unveiling as I only live five minutes away and managed to get these wonderful photographs of the royal trio. I was very happy we the images and also my new camera lens.

 

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2014

My first blog of 2014 and so far this year has been very busy. Saying that, I have managed to see one show, Stephen Sondheim's Putting It Together at the new St James Theatre, just around the corner from Buckingham Palace.

The cast do the show was amazing, especially I know that some of them had come straight from pants at various shows across the country.

Sondheim's shows are becoming more popular now and having seen quite a few in the last few years, I have come to appreciate them and also enjoy them. I have always loved the Jerry Herman style of show and indeed still do, but I also can hum a Sondheim tune too now.

If you get chance, go see the show, it has one week left to run and it a wonderful evening out.

 

 

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Basildon Park, a NT house.

A few Sundays ago, I decided to visit one of the National Trust property's that is fairly local to where I live but have never managed to get there. Basildon Park is a beautiful house and it has an amazing past, most of which I'd fairly recent.

During the war, the building was used by the armed forces. It was left in a very bad state of repair when hostilities ceased and the house was put up for sale. The house and estate was purchased by Lord and Lady Iliffe and they both set out to restore the house back to its former glory. Lord and Lady Iliffe owned national newspapers and so had the funds to refurbish the house.

With the refurbishment, the house took on a homely feel as that is exactly what it became, a home. Lord and Lady Iliffe lived here and enjoyed the house to its fullest. As can be seen from the kitchen images, it was very much home and the owners liked to entertain.

The kitchen is fitted very much to the era when it was installed, during the 1950's. Many of the items in the kitchen will be recognised by many people.

This is a great place to visit and the house was lived in by Lady Iliffe until her death in 2007. Once the house had been fully refurbished, Lord and Lady Iliffe handed over the house and grounds to the National Trust with a large endowment in 1978, although both continued to live there until their respective deaths.

 

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Cunard's Queen Elizabeth

A wonderful day yesterday at the Eastern Docks in Southampton. A tour and lunch on board this amazing ship with great friends and it was so good to be able to see areas of the ship that would normally be off limits, such as the Queen Staterooms, off limits simply because they would be occupied during a cruise, and not by me!

We were shown every part of the ship and it really is amazing when you see a full size theatre with boxes on board a ship! Not only that, there was a ballroom, many restaurants, bars, lounges, all for the comfort of the passengers. I know from being on a transatlantic crossing last year on the Queen Mary 2, a cruise is very relaxing.

The inside of the ship is as you would expect, wonderfully over the top and everything there for the comfort of the passengers. The staterooms are wonderfully appointed from the inside ones to the larger ones with everything and more.

This is the Royal Court Theatre and below, the lounge area of a Queen Stateroom.

Below is a balcony stateroom.

Being on board certainly whetted my appetite to book a cruise and I am sure one will be booked soon!

 

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Views of Old Windsor

Windsor has two parts, Old Windsor and New Windsor, although New Windsor is usually known simply as Windsor. Windsor has the Castle and is known for its association with the Royal Family. Old Windsor was actually in place before New Windsor as a Saxon settlement and was the home of Saxon Kings. I am not sure if there are any remains of the Saxon settlements but items would have been found that confirm the existence of these settlements.

There are a few islands in the river along this part of Old Windsor and these would have been easier to defend during this period. Now Old Windsor consists of residential homes and is a place that most people drive through. However, it is a great place to live and being so close to the river Thames, the is always something happening.

 

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Frogmore House and Gardens

I am lucky to live in a small town in Berkshire that has many attractions, not least the favourite home of Her Majesty The Queen. Some of the attractions though are not as well known as the Castle and Frogmore House is one of those gems. It is only open for two weekends a year, the reason for this? It is the private garden used by the Royal Family when they are in residence at the Castle. It is also the final resting place of many members of the Royal Family.

The house was renovated many years ago and the inside is the same as if Queen Victoria's mother, The Duchess of Kent, had gone out for a drive in a carriage. It really is beautiful inside and well worth visiting.

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert have their final resting place in the gardens in the Royal Mausoleum and for many years you were able to go in and pay your respects to the longest reigning British monarch and her husband. However for the past few years, the mausoleum has been closed as part of the roof has started to fall into the main part of the building.

Many recent members of the Royal Family are buried in the Royal Burial Ground, including the Duke and Duchess of Kent, their son in law, Sir Angus Ogilvy. Also the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester and their son, Prince William of Gloucester. Also present are the remains of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

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Las Vegas

I went to Las Vegas for the first time this month. I was there for four days and wasn't sure what to expect, although many friends have been and said it really is a great place to be. My first impressions were not good, the city seemed to be dirty and there were numerous hen and stag parties, drinking at 4pm etc.

However as time went on, the place started to grow on me and once the lights came on each evening, the city took on a magical feel. Everything glistened as every surface was covered in lights and the place seemed to buzz.

Streetlights seemed irrelevant as night turned into day once dusk arrived. The glamour that Las Vegas was and is famous for then could be seen, ladies in their finery, great restaurants, high end shops, all the names being in the city. I have never been anywhere where there is a Louis Vuitton on literally every corner!

The main attraction in the city is the hotels, they are masterpieces in a Disneyesque kind of way. But it works there, Caesars Palace was superb, the interior was amazing and just when you think it can't get any better, it does. The Wynn and the Bellagio were sumptuous, nothing has been spared to give both hotels the most luxurious feel, although to stay there you would simply be a number.

So

So love it or hate it, everyone has to go to Las Vegas and experience it for themselves. Would I go back? The answer is yes!

 

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Sedona AZ

I have recently returned from Sedona in Arizona. It really was a magical place to be, although most of the retail space was given over to healing and holistic premises and this was the theme in Sedona. I didn't try any of the treatments on offer but I think if I were to go back to the area, I would do.

This was one of the areas on the road trip from San Francisco to Phoenix that I found the one plant I wanted to see and that was the cactus. I saw many in this area although not the variety I wanted to see. The one elusive plant I wanted to see was the cactus that features in the Wild West, the desperate Dan type of cactus. I only saw this on the way to Phoenix Airport.

The flowers these plants display are quite amazing, the colours are so vivid, especially against the harsh backdrop of the desert. These colours though pale into insignificance once the sun hits the red rock of the formations around Sedona. The red soil is amazing and has to be seen.

The soil is also red in the town and area and although it must be a difficult substance to grow plants etc, the roses in the town looked amazing. That really surprised me as Sedona is classified as high desert and the last thing I expected to see was roses!

Finally, the sunsets in Sedona were superb, the vivid colours blew me away.

 

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